The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-12
HoNoRING A BRAVE SOLDIER.
Gen. John b. Turchin Entertained by the
Nineteenth Illinois Club.

Chicago Herald
The Nineteenth Illinois Infantry Club was
transacting routine business at its regular
monthly meeting at No. 104 Randolph street
when John B. furchin, of Radon. ILL.,. entered.
Immediately the members rose to their feet,
and received the gallant old soldier with seven
and a tiger" which is the old Ellsworth zouave
cheer The General. who is writing n book
on the battle of Chickamauga, is in the city
for the purpose Of having prepared maps of that
historic battle field. There is only one person
held in higher esteem by the Nineteenth Illinois
than their old comrader, and that IL his wife.
She accompanied him through the war, and by
her courage as well as her womanly qualities
endeared herself to the soldiers. The General
did not deliver formal address to his former
command. He spoke to them in . converse
tiopal manner and the auditors frequently
and volunteered their opinions OF Rose
Grams, Buell. and McCook. At the close
ono of the vets caused laugh by asking: "Gen-
eral. is it true that you informed the boys at
Athens that you were going to close your eyes in
sleep for hour two?" Athens. which was
a red-hot rebel city, gave more than usually
warm reception to a regiment that entered it.
The Inhabitants threw all kinds of missiles
from the windows of their houses at
the soldiers they marched through the streets.
When Gen. Turchin entered the city he was in
formed of the reception given to the soldiers,
and be became very indignant. Whether
or not the General informed his soldiers
that he would take for
an hour or two mas not yet been settled by his
tory. but it is certain that the army exercised
more than the privileges which 1t was allowed
by the rules of war in a conquered city. General
Turcnin was tried by court-martal for the dis
order allowed in the city. Speaking OF this
court-martial he said General Garfield, who was
a of intellect but not military man,
presided At first Garfield treated him with
some harshness, but toward the close became his
friend. About thirty witnesses were examined.
mostly civilians. but they could testify to moth
ing damaging to the defense Finally Garfield
said: 1--WE find that there was disorder. but we
cannot find anything against General Turchln.
Therefore move we adjourn The court would
have acouesced, said General Turchin, had not
Swayne stated that he had evidence which he
felt confident would show that he had connived
at the disorder. Garfield was SICK"
continued the General with fever, toward
the close of the trial, which lasted
forty days. AS he lay lounge he said to
me: L envy you your position Why said
T. that's strange feeling to envy me who,
perhaps will be disRraced in short time by the
field, because you are in position to speak to
the country about the miserable way in which
we prosecuting this war -
When the General asked how they liked the
proposition to return the rebel flags the meeting
gave evidence that il cordially disapproved OF It.
He then paid high compliment to his friend
Governor Foraker. of OHIO, who ne said, on it
becoming known that it intended to return
the flags, telegraphed General Boynto to secure
the best legal talent Washington to restrain
the President from returning the flags captured
by Ohio regiments. In reply to question rs to
whether General Roseerans was to blame for
the result at Chickamauga, he said no. and that
only for Rosecrans night campaign he did not
know what would have become of the army.
Rosecrans acted we'll as any man could under
the circumstances. Blunde-s were commit